Casing for an electric appliance and an electric appliance with such a casing

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a casing ( 10 ) for containing an electric appliance ( 86 ), in which the casing ( 10 ) includes two doors ( 14 ) and a platform ( 22 ) with an upper surface ( 24 ), and the doors ( 14 ) are movable between a closed position in which access to the electric appliance ( 86 ) is denied and an open position in which access to the electric appliance ( 86 ) is allowed, and the platform ( 22 ) is movable between a retracted position in which the upper surface ( 24 ) of the platform ( 22 ) is substantially wholly enclosed by the doors ( 14 ), and an extended position in which the upper surface ( 24 ) of the platform ( 22 ) is exposed to the outside environment. There is also disclosed an electric appliance ( 86 ) with such a casing ( 10 ).

[0001] A This invention relates to a casing for an electric appliance and an electric appliance with such a casing and, in particular, a casing for an electric coffee maker, e.g. an espresso and/or cappuccino maker, and an electric coffee maker with such a casing.

[0002] There are in existence a large variety of electric appliances for making beverages and drinks, e.g. electric coffee makers. However, most such electric appliances are, whether in use or not, exposed to the outside environment. In addition, such conventional electric appliances do not provide space allowing cups and saucers to be placed nearby. If a fixed space is provided, the electric appliance may then be considered not compact enough.

[0003] It is thus an object to provide a casing for an electric appliance, and an electric appliance with such a casing, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a casing adapted to contain an electric appliance, wherein said casing includes at least a door member and a platform member with an upper surface, wherein said door member is movable between a closed position in which access to said appliance is denied and an open position in which access to said appliance is allowed, and wherein said platform member is movable between a retracted position in which said upper surface of said platform member is substantially wholly enclosed by said door member, and an extended position in which at least part of said upper surface of said platform member is exposed to the outside environment.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric appliance housed within a casing, wherein said casing includes at least a door member and a platform member with an upper surface, wherein said door member is movable between a closed position in which access to said appliance is denied and an open position in which access to said appliance is allowed, and wherein said platform member is movable between a retracted position in which said upper surface of said platform member is substantially wholly enclosed by said door member, and an extended position in which at least part of said upper surface of said platform member is exposed to the outside environment.

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, and with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

[0007]FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a casing according to the present invention in a door-closed configuration;

[0008]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A in a door-open configuration;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;

[0011]FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the movement mechanism of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;

[0012]FIG. 4B is an assembled view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 5A;

[0013]FIG. 5A is a partially exposed view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;

[0014]FIG. 5B is another partially exposed view of the casing shown in FIG. 1A;

[0015]FIG. 6A is a plan view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 4B in the door-open configuration;

[0016]FIG. 6B is a plan view of the movement mechanism shown in FIG. 4B in the door-closed configuration;

[0017]FIG. 6C is a partial sectional view of a first arrangement whereby the door and the respective rack shown in FIG. 5A is engaged with each other;

[0018]FIG. 6D is a partial sectional view of a second arrangement whereby the door and the respective rack shown in FIG. 5A is engaged with each other in which the doors are open;

[0019]FIG. 6E is a partial sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5D in which the doors are closed;

[0020]FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked as “A” in FIG. 2 in which the locking part is in a locked position;

[0021]FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked as “A” in FIG. 2 in which the locking part is in an unlocked position;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a movement mechanism of a second embodiment of a casing according to the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an electric coffee maker housed in a casing according to the present invention in which the doors are closed; and

[0024]FIG. 9B is a perspective of the electric coffee maker shown in FIG. 9A in which the doors are fully open.

[0025]FIGS. 1A and 1B show a casing according to the present invention generally designated as 10. The casing 10 is generally cylindrical in shape, and includes a main body 12 coupled with a pair of movable doors 14. The main body 12 is joined on its upper end with a top 16. Positioned at the centre of the top 16 is a button 18 which may be operated by a finger of a user. The main body 12 is joined on its lower end with a base 20, relative to which a platform 22 having an upper surface 24 is movable.

[0026] While the main body 12, the top 16 and the base 20 are fixedly secured with one another, the doors 14 and the platform 22 are both movable relative to the main body 12, the top 16 and the base 20 in a manner to be discussed below. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the top 16, the main body 12, the doors 14 and the base 20 combine to define an interval cavity 26 which may be accessed when the doors 14 are open. It can also be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B that, when the doors 14 are closed, the upper surface 24 of the platform 22 is wholly enclosed by the doors 14 and within the cavity 26, and that when the doors 14 are open, the upper surface 24 is exposed to the outside environment and accessible by a user. It should also be noted that, when the doors 24 are closed, part of the doors 24 sit on the upper surface 24 of the platform 22.

[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the button 18 is connected to an end of a bar 28 via a rivet 30, so that the pivot bar 28 and the button 18 are movable relative to each other about the rivet 30. The bar 28 is connected around its mid-point to the top 16 via a rivet 32, so that the bar 28 is swivellable relative to the top 16 about the rivet 32. Another end of the bar 28 is connected to a vertical disposed rod 34 via a rivet 36, so that the bar 28 and the rod 34 are movable relative to each other about the rivet 36. The button 18 is provided with a spring 38 which urges the button 18 to occupy its position as shown in FIG. 2. At a lower end of the rod 34 is provided with a spring 40 which urges the rod 34 to occupy its position as shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] In the configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the platform 22 will be retained in the position as shown therein by the rod 34, which forms part of a locking mechanism. By way of the arrangement discussed above, when the button 18 is pressed downwardly, and against the biasing force of the spring 38, in the direction indicated by the arrow B, the bar 28 will pivot relative to the rivet 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow C. In this way, the rod 34 will move upwardly, and against the biasing force of the spring 40, in the direction indicated by the arrow E. When the downward pressing force on the button 18 is released, the spring 38 will act to return the button 18 upwardly to the position as shown in FIG. 2, in which case the rod 34 will also move downwardly upon the action of the biasing force of the spring 40.

[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the doors 14 are coupled to the body 12 via a boss 42, so that the doors 14 can swivel around the body 12 about a longitudinal axis L-L of the body 12. It can also be seen that the base 20 includes a gear system (details of which will be discussed below) which is operable to move the platform 22 between a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1A, and an extended position, as shown in FIG. 1B. The platform 22 includes a lower part 22 a engaged with the gear system for movement, a middle part 22 b, and an upper part 22 c which provides the upper surface 24. The upper part 22 c includes a number of parallel slots 44 which allows liquid falling onto the surface to drip into a cavity 46 of the middle part 22 b. The upper part 22 c, the middle part 22 b and the lower part 22 a are engaged with one another, e.g. in a snap-fit manner, to allow such parts to move as a unit.

[0030] As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lower part 22 a of the platform 22 includes a curved front part 22 d and a rear portion 22 e. The rear part 22 e is generally planar in shape and has a pair of parallel geared portions 48 arranged on each of its two lateral sides. The lower part 22 a also has a channel 50 for receiving a spring 52, which urges the lower part 22 a outwardly away from the base 20. Along each of two lateral sides of the front part 22 d of the lower part 22 a is provided a stepped portion 54 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 4A) which is received within a respective recess 56, for guiding the reciprocating movement of the lower part 22 a relative to the base 20 in the directions indicated by the arrow G.

[0031] Provided on the base 20 are two gear members 58 with an upper smaller gear 58 a and a lower larger gear 58 b. Each of the gear members 58 is secured to the base 20 by a respective screw 60 which allows free rotation of the respective gear member 58. Each of the geared portions 48 of the rear part 22 e of the lower part 22 a of the platform 22 meshes with a respective upper smaller gear 58 a for relative movement. The rear part 22 e is also provided with an aperture 62, the function of which will be discussed below. In this way, movement of the lower part 22 a in the directions of the arrow G will cause simultaneous rotational movement of the gear members 58, and vice versa. In the space between the screw 60 and the respective gear member 58, there is provided a damping grease which dampens the rotational movement of the gear members 58.

[0032] The lower larger gear 58 b of each gear member 58 meshes with an inner gear portion 64 a of a respective curved rack 64. By way of such an arrangement, movement of the gear members 58 will bring about simultaneous sliding movement of the racks 64 relative to the base 20. An upper track 66 and a lower track 68 are provided on the base 20, each for guiding the sliding movement of a respective track 64 relative to the base 20. It can be seen that, in this way, movement of the lower part 22 a in the directions indicated by the arrow G will cause the racks 64 to slide relative to the base 20.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4A to 5B, the outer end of each rack 64 is provided with an engagement part 66 for engagement with a downwardly extending portion 67 (see FIG. 3) of a respective door 14, so that the rack 64 and the door 14 with which it is secured move as a unit. Thus, movement of the lower part 22 a in the directions indicated by the arrow G (see FIG. 4A) will cause the doors 14 to swivel relative to the base 20 in the directions indicated by the arrows H (see FIG. 5B), and about the longitudinal axis L-L of the body 12, as discussed above.

[0034] Turning now to FIG. 6A, in which the lower part 22 a of the platform 22 is in the extended position, it can be seen that, in this position, the spring 52 is also in an expanded position. In this same position, the two racks 64 are at a rear part 70 of the base 20. If the lower part 22 a of the platform 22 is pushed towards the base 20, against the outward biasing force of the spring 52, and in the direction indicated by the arrow J, the two gear members 58 will be caused to rotate respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow K₁, K₂. Because of the rotational movement of the gear members 58, the racks 64 will also be caused to move respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow M₁, M₂. The lower part 22 a and the racks 64 will then assume the positions as shown in FIG. 6B.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 6B, in which the lower part 22 a of the platform 22 is in the retracted position, it can be seen that the spring 52 is in a contracted position. If the lower part 22 a is allowed to move, it will move in the direction indicated by the arrow P, which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow J in FIG. 6A, under the biasing force of the spring 52. The two gear members 58 will be caused to rotate respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow R₁, R₂, which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows K₁, K₂ respectively. Because of the rotational movement of the gear members 58, the racks 64 will also be caused to move respectively in the direction indicated by a respective arrow S₁, S₂, which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows M₁, M₂ respectively. The lower part 22 a and the racks 64 will then assume the positions as shown in FIG. 6A.

[0036] It can be seen that, by way of such an arrangement, as the racks 64 are fixedly engaged with the doors 14, when the platform 22 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6A, the doors 14 will be open, whereas when the platform 22 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6B, the doors 14 will be closed, and that the doors 14 and the platform 22 will move simultaneously. It can also be seen that the two doors 14 always move in opposite directions.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6C, in a first arrangement, the downwardly extending portion 67 of the door 14 is received within the engagement part 66 of the rack 64 for simultaneous movement. In a second arrangement, and as shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E, while the downwardly extending portion 67 is also received within the engagement part 66, a spring 71 is disposed between the downwardly extending portion 67 and the engagement part 66. Except in the door-closed position, the spring 71 will urge the downwardly extending portion 67 to occupy a position relative to the engagement part 66 as that shown in FIG. 6D. The rack 64 and the respective door 14 may move in the direction indicated by the arrow W in FIG. 6E to close the two doors 14. In the door-closed position as shown in FIG. 6E, the spring 71 will be in a contracted configuration and will exert a biasing force on the downwardly extending portion 67 of the door 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow W. By way of this arrangement, in the door-closed position, the two doors 14 will be urged towards each other, so as to ensure that the doors are properly closed.

[0038]FIG. 7A shows how the rear part 22 a of the platform 22, and thus the platform 22, is retained in the retracted position. As shown here, a tip 72 of the rod 34 is received within the aperture 62 of the rear part 22 e of the lower part 22 a of the platform 22. In this position, the platform 22 is locked against movement relative to the rod 34. When the rod 34 is moved upward against the biasing force of the spring 40, in the direction indicated by the arrow T in FIG. 7B, the tip 72 of the rod 34 will be disengaged from the aperture 62, so that the platform 22 will move in the direction indicated by the arrow V in FIG. 7B, upon the biasing force of the spring 52. When the platform 22 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow V until the aperture 62 is directly below the tip 72 of the rod 34, the rod 34 will move upon the urging force of the spring 40 downwardly to enter the aperture 62, so as to lock the platform 22 against movement relative to the rod 34.

[0039] In an alternative arrangement, the button 18 may be arranged to control both the opening and closing of the doors 14. In this arrangement, and as shown in FIG. 8, an electronic switch 76 is provided below the button 18. When the button 18 is pressed, the switch 76 will be activated to transmit signals to an electronic control device 78, which will cause an electric motor 80 to move in a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction. While a gear 82 of the electric motor 80 meshes with an inner geared portion 84 the rear part 22 e of the lower part 22 a of the platform 22, the rear part 22 e also meshes with the two gear members 58 in the manner discussed above. In this way, the platform 22 may be moved backward or forward, which will also cause the racks 64 to slide relative to the base 20.

[0040] The casing 10 according to the present invention may be used as a container for an electric appliance, e.g. an electric coffee maker 86 for preparing cappuccino and/or espresso, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. It can be seen that the coffee maker 86 can be fully enclosed within the casing 10, as shown in FIG. 9A, when such is not in use. On the other hand, when desired, the button 18 may be pressed down to cause the platform 22 to move outwardly from the casing 10, and to open the doors 14, as shown in FIG. 9B so as to enable the coffee maker 86 to be accessed. A cup (not shown) may then be placed on the upper surface 24 directly under an exit of the coffee maker from which coffee may be provided.

[0041] It can thus be seen that a compact, neat and tidy arrangement is provided for housing an electric appliance, in particular an electric appliance for preparing drinks and beverages.

[0042] It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0043] It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. 

1. A casing adapted to contain an electric appliance, wherein said casing includes at least a door member and a platform member with an upper surface, wherein said door member is movable between a closed position in which access to said appliance is denied and an open position in which access to said appliance is allowed, and wherein said platform member is movable between a retracted position in which said upper surface of said platform member is substantially wholly enclosed by said door member, and an extended position in which at least part of said upper surface of said platform member is exposed to the outside environment.
 2. A casing according to claim 1 wherein said door member and said platform member are movable simultaneously.
 3. A casing according to claim 1 further including a button member operable to control the movement of both said door member and said platform member.
 4. A casing according to claim 3 wherein said button member is operable to cause said platform member to move between said retracted position and said extended position.
 5. A casing according to claim 1 wherein when platform member moves from said retracted position to said extended position, said door member moves from said closed position to said open position.
 6. A casing according to claim 1 wherein when said platform member moves from said extended position to said retracted position, said door member moves from said open position to said closed position.
 7. A casing according to claim 1 wherein said door member is swivellable about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing to move between said closed position and said open position.
 8. A casing according to claim 1 including a pair of door members which are movable simultaneously.
 9. A casing according to claim 8 wherein said pair of door members move in opposite directions.
 10. A casing according to claim 8 wherein when in said closed position, said door members are biased towards each other.
 11. A casing according to claim 1 further including means for biasing said platform member towards said extended position.
 12. A casing according to claim 1 wherein when said platform member is in said retracted position, at least part of said door member rests on said upper surface of said platform member.
 13. A casing according to claim 3 wherein said button member is operatively associated with locking means adapted to releasably retain said platform member in said retracted position.
 14. A casing according to claim 13 wherein said locking means includes a pole member at least part of which is received within an aperture of said platform member when said platform member is in said retracted position.
 15. A casing according to claim 14 wherein said pole member is disengaged from said aperture of said platform member when said button member is operated.
 16. A casing according to claim 13 wherein said button member is movable from a first position in which said platform member is retained in said retracted position and a second position in which said platform member is allowed to move to said extended position, and wherein said button member is biased towards said first position.
 17. A casing according to claim 1 including an electric motor adapted to move said platform member.
 18. An electric appliance contained within a casing according to claim
 1. 19. An electric appliance according to claim 18 wherein said appliance is an electric coffee maker.
 20. An electric appliance according to claim 19 wherein said electric coffee maker is adapted to make espresso and/or cappuccino. 